Creating a lasting balance with coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is present in at least 80% of sheep, goat and cattle farms in France. How do you deal with this ever-present threat?
Coccidiosis is still found on farms and can survive there for up to a year. Although it doesn’t always appear in the form of clinical episodes, it has a significant impact on livestock, especially in young animals. The prepatent period for the two commonest strains in calves ranges from 15 to 22 days, with infection developing from birth.
Coccidia, unwelcome farm tenants that live rent free
One infectious oocyst ingested can produce millions of new oocysts which are released into the environment. The excreted oocyst can become infectious within days, depending on environmental conditions (more specifically humidity, temperature, ventilation and animal density). Rigorous and regular environmental management (i.e. cleaning and disinfection) is therefore essential, although this may be complicated by the spread or concentration of births.
Reducing the stresses that favour the spread of coccidia
Where livestock is concerned, it is essential to reduce the stresses associated with colostrum quality and intake, weaning, feed transitions, feed quality, ruminal and intestinal dysbiosis, classification, immunity and, in general, all sources of stress that promote the spread of coccidia. Any measures designed to reduce these stresses will help control the spread of coccidia.
Creating a lasting balance to develop immunity
Early but limited exposure to coccidia is essential to develop lasting immunity. It is also vital to monitor the situation through stool analyses.
Limitations of veterinary treatment
Five veterinary drugs are indicated for coccidiosis and are available on prescription only: sulfadimethoxine, sulfadimerazine, diclazuril, toltrazuril and decoquinate.
It is important to note that their use has limitations, is likely to affect an animal’s immunity and is undesirable in organic farming. Sulfonamides are antibiotics, toltrazuril has an environmental impact and decoquinate requires the use of medicated feed, which is subject to regulatory constraints that affect all parties involved (from veterinarians to feed manufacturers, transporters and farmers).
GEMEO helps control stress and establish the necessary long-term balance.
Biodevas Laboratoires offers GEMEO, a supplementary feed suitable for both young pre-ruminants and growing weanlings such as young bulls.
GEMEO supports the preparation of the digestive tract and ensures better growth and uniformity between animals through the synergy of three actions:
- The management of oxidative stress: through the Nrf2 pathway, maintaining cellular homeostasis in the intestinal mucosa (which is particularly beneficial for the development and resistance of the digestive tract to stress)
- The stabilisation of the ruminal and gut microbiota
- Local stimulation of the immune system.
These non-biocidal actions strengthen an animal’s natural defences without creating resistance. Available in various forms (solid, top-feeding, lacto-dispersible and liquid), GEMEO is residue free, has no withdrawal period and can be used in organic farming.
It can also be concentrated to provide relevant B2B forms.
Suitable for use in conventional and organic animal husbandry
Biodevas Laboratoires extracts plants internally using its own process and over a hundred plants, 94% of which are French-grown. This local sourcing keeps the carbon footprint in check.
GEMEO is a solution that helps control coccidiosis in conjunction with good farming practices.
By reducing the use of chemical drugs, GEMEO is part of our One Health approach.
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